Type-writing machine.



F. E. BECKER.

TYPE WRITINGYMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8.1913.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

' mumqm I WITNESSES! UNITED STATES PATENT O CE. I

FRANK E. BECKER. OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDER-WOOD TYPEWRITEB COMPANY, OF NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

To r/l/ re/mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. BECKER, a citizen of the lnited States, residing in Jamaica, borough of Queens, in the county of (Queens and State of New York, have 111- vented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lype-ll'riting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to typewriting maehines,-ainl particularly to means for connet-ting and disconnecting the platen and line-space ivheel, for fractional line-spacing,

The Y 'entit'm involves .a prlnciple of mn' struetion' dist-l,ose't l .in the patent to Arthur 'ah'mith. Xo.IS GO,S3-l, in which the line-space'wheeband the platen are relatively rotatable, allocking dog being carried by one of said parts, and atoothed rack or ring carried by-the otherpart, the locking dog being adapted for movement into locking engagement "with the said toothed ring, the line-space wheel andplaten being thus locked together regardless of their relative, positions. v

.\eeordii ig to the present invention the locking dogs are arranged to positively prevent any relative movement whatever of the line-space wheel and platen w l1en tl1e parts are in locking position.

.-\11 important feature of the invention is the provision of a number of locking dogs arranged to be operated independently ofone another to locking positron, and; so arranged that oppositely acting dogsarerrelied' upon to hold the parts against relativemovement in opposite directions. In otherwords each dog is required to lock the toothed wheel with which it engages against movement in only one direction. By such arrangement'the liability to looseness of parts or lost motion, due to wear or inaccuracy in manufacture or unevenness in the spacing of the gear-teeth, 1s ent rely eliminated. Av

strong and reliable structure is also thereby obtained The dogs are moved directly nto locking position simply byfrotationlabout their pivots and are positively. lockedin such position by individual lwedge .cams;

making a simple and effective structure.

The dogs are independently operated and each moves fullv'up to lo'cking engagement with the" 'toothe heel regardless of the/p0 sition "oi the otherdogs or the relative position of thepIat'n" and line-space wheel.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February a, 1913. Serial No. 740,999.

them to releasing position.

' pivoted a dog 6 having a tooth 7m engage the teeth of a line-space wheel 8 loosely 1'10 Patented Nov. 9, 19115;;

The line-space wheel is loosely mounted on the platen axle, but is normally held against rotation relative-to the platen by I locking dogs carried by the line-space whee-l; and engaging teeth of a toothed ring having- 5oa fixed connection with the platen axle The said ring is preferably secured within a drum fixed to the axle. The locking dogs are arranged in pairs and pivotally mounted on supports fixed to the line-space wheel. These locking dogs lie in the plane of the toothed ring, and are moved to locking position by spring actuated wedge shaped cams guided on pins secured to the line space wheel and parallel to the platen axle. 'Each'fio cam is movable independently of the others and follows up a locking dog, movin it into engagement with the toothed ring. Thus each dog is movable independently into a position to positively lock the'said locking dogs are so spaced thatwhen one dog of the pair locks thesaid ring in one direction, the other dog engages a tooth at a point to prevent rotation 'in'the reverse direction. By the provision-of a plurality of locking dogs, the danger of any lost motion or'looseness of the 'parts' when locked due to wear is practically eliminated, and a strong and reliable construction is also 85 obtaineth The locking cams are retracted I by means of a thumb piece carrying a disk in position to engage the cams andmoves Other features and advantages will here so inafter appear. y Inthe accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of mechanism'embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation View showing v the parts in looking position. Fig. 3 isz a similar view showing the locking dogs re-" leased. Fig. 4 is a seotional'view as in'di-i cated by the line 1-4 of. Fig-2! Fig. 5 his a perspective view of the line-space wheel, the locking dogs and a dog-operating wedge, the parts being disassembled. Fig. 6 is'a perspective view. of the internal gearf' Fig; 7 is a perspectiveviewofone opera-tingwedges.v i p The platen i1 is fixed to an axle 2 jourknaled in a platen frame 3. A line-space lever is adapted to; operate a slide '5' toJiwhich-Is WhlCh are mounted two pairs of locking mounted on the axle 2. The linc-spaoe wheel is normally connected, through mechanism presently to be described, to rotate the platen. The operation of the lever 4 rotates the wheel and platen in the usual manner, the slide 5 and lever 4 being returned by a spring 9 secured at its ends to the slide and platen frame. A detent l0 engaging the line-space wheel holds the latter against accidental rotation. T

Rigidly secured to the line-space wheel 8 are tour guide pins 11 extending from one side of the Wheel parallel with the platen axle and preferably equally spaced and equidistant from the axle. Also rigidly secured to the line-space wheel, by any suitable means as for example, screws 12,-are two supporting members 13 on the outer ends of dogs a, b, and 3d] Each pair of dogs is mounted on a pivot 14 threaded into a cor responding opening 15 1n the end of its support 13. Each locking dog is formed at its outer end with a tooth 16 adapted to engage the rack teeth 17 of aniinternallv toothed ring or clutch member 18 connected to a drum or casing 19 by screws 20. The ring-l8 and locking dogs form respectively the. members of a clutch to ctiii'ii ct the platen and line-space wheel 8. The dr nn 1!) is provided at its outer end with a web 21 formed with a sleeve or hub 22, which fits on the platen axle 2. A set screw '23 secures the drum rigidly to the axle.

The locking dogs are moved to locking position by means of wedge-shaped cams 2+ formed integral with or rigidly secured to cam blocks 25 which slide 'on the guide pins 11. v Each block 25 is formed with grooves or-semi-cylindrical recesses 26in its side faces, which form bearing surfaces to recei ve thepins 11. The inner corner of the block 25 is also removed to form a curved surface 27, which bears on the axle 2.

Each wedge 24: presents an inclined or cam face 28, which is also preferably somewhat curved or convexed, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 7 The locking dogs are formed with bearing faces 29, Whichbear on the cam surfaces 28. The inner lateral face of each wedg24 may bear against a lateral face of one of the supports 13, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each of the locking wedges is normally held outward in a locking position by means of a coil-spring 30 seated in a recess in the block :25 and reacting against the line-space Wheel 8. "Secured to the outer end of .the platen axle, by means of a set screw32, is the usual finger-Wheel 31 for rotating the platen. The

locking dogs are adapted to be released by means of a thumb-pieceor button 33 secured to the outer ends of parallel rods 34, which extend through the finger-Wheel 31, and at their inner ends carry a disk 35 in front of thecain blocks 25. Xermally the locking dogsand their actuating-wcdges 24 are held in looking position by the springs 30, so that relative rotation of the line-space wheel and the platen is prevented, and the platen is rotated "tor ordmarv line=spaeing through the operation otthe line-space lever 4.

To permit rotation of the platen through the traction of a line-space, pressure is appliedfto'the tliunib- 'iiece 33, 'and the wedge bloeltsfifi are thereby fort-ed. inward toward the line-space wheel, which releases thelockiugwlogs. The latter are then moved inward about their pivots by springs 36, which may be secured at their inner ends to the line=space wheel and extend through openings iii in thesupports 13, the other ends of :springs engaging in openings 38 in the loeie 111g dogs. '1 use springs tend to swing locle ing dogs inward toward released position. Inward pressure of the thumb-piece 3 therefore releases the. locking dogs from the locking ring 13 and permits rotation of the platen, while the line-space wheel is held stationary by the detent 10. When the thumb-piece 33.is again released, the springs 30 force the cams outwardly and l()('l the dogs to thering 1h. 7

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the relation of the teeth 16 ot' the locking dogs to the teeth 17 varies for any given relative positionof line-spacewheel and platen. In other words, the distnnc-en hw tween the teeth of each pair, of locking dogs is not an even multiple of the-.(listanl'e littween the points. of lwoadjncent teeth '17. 'lhusias shownin this li'glllilc; the tooth on the ddgifo is seated,:b'etwi en two'ot' the teeth whilewthe tooth on the dog (Z engages theap oint of a tooth -]rlL- The result of this Sarrangenient is that the two dogs will lock thc platen against rotation in either direction regardless of the relative position of the platen and line-space wheel, which would not be the caseif the locking dogs were. so spaced as toengage the same relative portions of the teeth 1.7.

It will also be observed that for a given rcland the dog (I is at the point where it cannot prevent rotation of the ring in either direction.

Considering either pair of dogs alone, as for example the dogs cand d, and assuming the dogs to be retracted, it Will be apparent that if'the ring-18 is rotated in either direcring-against rotation in eitherdirection;

tion through an angle less than half the distance between two adjacent teethli, and

the dogs again released, they will both be in locking position and prevent rotation .in either direction. If the ring has been rotated through half the angular distance between adjacent teeth, the relation of the two dogs to the teeth will be reversed, that is, the tooth on the dog 0 will engage the point of a tooth 17, while the tooth on the dog (I will be seated between two of the teeth l7.- It will thus be apparent that either pair of dogs alone would suflice to positively hold the parts, regardless of the relative position of the platen andline-space wheel. The use of two pairs of looking dogs, however, provides a somewhat'niore reliable and symmetrical construction. I

It will be noted that the cam blocks 25 tance, depending on the relation of the locking dog .operated thereby to the teeth 17. Thus, forexample the tooth on the .dog 0 Flg. 2, being seated between two of the teeth dog (Z, requiring that the actuating block 25 for the dog 0 be'moved outward a greater.

distance than that for the dog 03. The

thumb-piece 33, when pressed inward, holds the-cams inward an equal distance and thereby permits a. uniform retraction ing-dogs.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: a 1. In .a typewriting machine, the combination'with a platen axle and a platen secured thereto, of a line-space wheel mounted to rotate on the platen axle, a drum fixed to the axle, an internally toothed ring secured to the'drum, pivoted locking dogs carried by the line-space wheel and independently movable into locking engagement with said ring,

of the lock- Lcams to independently operate said and a device to operate said cams.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, its axle and-a line-space wheel, of a drum secured to the platen axle, "an internally" toothed ring secured within said 'drum, locking dogscarried by the linespace wheel and each rotatable about a pivot parallel with the, platen a'xle, cams movable longitudinally. of said axle to independently operate said locking dogs, and a thumb-piece to operate said." cams.

3. In atypewriting machine, the no 1bination-with n platenaxle and a platen, of a line-space wheel rotatable on said. axle, a casing secured to the axle, an internally toothed ring secured within thecasmg. locking'dogs, means connecting said dogs to the line space wheel, wedges to actuate said lock- '!*i1'1g.;- dogs, guide ,pins' carried by the line-space will be moved outward a greater or less dis-' 1?, is moved farther than the tooth on thewheel for supporting and guiding said wedges, springs to actuate said wedges in a direction to operate the dogs to locking position, springs to'retract the dogsto released position, and a manual device operable to return the said wedges and permit the release of the locking dog's.

l. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a clutch to connect said parts comprising a rack and locking dogsarranged in pairs, the dogs of each pair pivoted to rotate about the same axis, and swinging outwardly in the plane or the rack into engagement with the rack and positioned to form a locking connection with diiferent relative portions of the rack teeth, and thereby lock the line- 'space wheel and platen in'any relative pos1t1on.

5. In a typewritingmachine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a. clutch to connect said parts comprising a member having pointed teeth and inde pendently niovable pivoted dogs havingpointed teeth cooperating with the teeth on said member; said dogs arranged in pairs, the dogs of each pair plvoted to rotate about the same axis, and individual operating means to swing each dog outwardly to en gage with said member, the relative position of said dogs being such that when the point of one dog tooth engages the point of a tooth on said member, the tooth on the other dog is fully seated in a notch. between, two adjacent teeth on said member.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a clutch to releasably connect said platen and wheel comprising a memberhaving'an annular series of teeth and a pair of clutch dogs in the plane of said member, said dogs pivoted for rotation about the same axis, and means to independently actuate said dogs.

T. In a typewritmg machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a clutch to releasably connect said platen and wheel comprising a member formed with an annular series of clutch teeth, and a pair of clutch dogs pivoted for rotation/about a common, axis into and out of engagement with said teeth, the contacting su-rfacesof said teeth being inclined to both their direction of movement and also to tllfl,, d1lClZ1OI1 of movement of the. locking dogs, {said dogs being. of suchzleng'th relative to the spacing of theteeth asto' lock theplaten line.- space wheel together in any positionof adjustmcnt -f, i

I 8. In .a. t vpewri-ting machine, the ,conibi nation-at th a platen and ajline-spacewheel adap te.d ;t'or relative rotation, ofa clutch to connect said parts comprising aring o f =1 ack teeth and independently movable pivoted locking. dogs arranged in pairs with the dogs of eachpair extending in opposite directions tially in the circumference of a circle within said ring, and means to swing said rack-engaging portions outwardly into engagementwith the rack teeth, to lock the "platen and line-space wheel against relative rotation from any position of adjustment.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a relatively rotatable line-s uice wheel, of a clutch to connect said to lock the platen in any position to which it may be rotated relatively to the line-space wheel, said cams engaging behind the teeth of the dogs and forming a solid backing by which the teeth of the dogs are rigidly held against. the teeth of the ring and positively prevented from yielding, or moving relatively to the rinit). In a typewriting machine, the coinbination with a line-space wheel and a pltjitenlj of a clutch to connectsaid parts comprising a rack and a ring ol pivoted dogs arranged in pairs, the dogs of each pair extending in opposite directions from their pivots and movable about their pivots and swinging outwardly into engagement with the rack. and means surrounded by said dogs to actuate them. said rack and dogs having cooperating pointed teeth to lock the platen and line-space wheel in any relative position oi adjustment.

11. In a typewriting machine, the-combination with a platen and a line-space wheel mounted for relative rotation, of a clutch to connect said parts comprising a toothed member and a ring of pivoted dogs adapted for independent pivotal movement, and in- Y dividnal mean's'to swing each dog outwardly into engagement with the said toothed member: the locking dogs being arranged in pairs. the dogs of each pair extending in opposite directions from their pivots and so positioned relatively to each other and to thetoothed member that when one dog of a pair locks said parts against relative rotation in one direction, the other locks the parts against relative rotation in the opposite .lirection.. 1'2. "In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel,

of a clutch between said parts comprising a ring having an internal annular series of crack teeth and a pair of locking dogs pivoted for rotation about the same'axis and extending n opposite d1rect1ons.from $3111 from their pivots. the pivots and racken-' gagmgportions being ar'anged substanaxis and swinging outwardly in the plane ofsaid ring into engagement with the teeth, and means for actuating said dogs, the com tacting surfaces of the dogs and teeth-eachinclined to its direction of movement where- ;by the locking position of each dog relative to said ring is infinitesimally ariable by a dilt'erential rotation of the ring. I

13. .In a typewriting machine, the-combination with a rotary platen and a relatively rotatable line-space wheel, of a clutch between said parts comprising a toothed looking ring and pivoted toothed dogs arranged with their teeth and pivots in a ringwithin said locking ring, said dogs arranged in I pairs with the dogs of a pair extending in opposite directions from their pivotsaand independently movable to swing outwardly for locr'ng engagement with said ring," the relative position of the dogs of a pair being such that when one dog is in position to lock the ring against rotation in one direction only, the other dog is in position to lock the ring against rotation in the opposite direction.

1+. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a line-space wheel ;and-a ,;rela tively rotatable platen having an axle, of a clutch to connect said wheel and platen;

clutch comprising a ring of teeth, p voted locking dogs within said mtg, and having the locking portions to swing into engagement ith the said teeth, said locking portions arranged at dian'i'etrically opposite sides of the platen'axle, and means for operating the dogs, said means, when the dogs arei'n lockbeing, interposed between the ing position, platen axle and said engaging portions of the dogs, whereby the locking strain created at "one side of the axle and transmitted from one locking dog through said means to the axle is counter-acted by the locking strain transmitted from the diametrically opposite dog through said means to the axle,

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a clutch between said parts comprising a toothed ring and a plurality of piybted lock:

ing dogs, each having a'locking portion-to engage said ring, said locking portions an the pivots of said dogs arranged in a ring, said dogs independently rotatable in the plane of said toothed ring and swinging out- \vardly into engagement with its teeth, the contacting surfaces ofthe dogs and ring teeth each inclined to its direction of movement and the faces of .said teeth each being of an extent to be engaged at a plurality of points by each locking dog, the point of con-f tact infinitesimally variable by a, rotation of.

the platen relatively to the line-space wheel, and means surrounded by said ring of dogs to actuate said dog's.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and line-space wheel, of

a clutch to reieasanly connect the platen and 1 wheel, said clutch comprising an annular series of rack teeth and pivoted locking dogs arranged in pairs, each pair having a common'pivot, the dogs of each pair extending in opposite directions from their pivot and provided with teeth arranged to engage said first-mentioned teeth and lock the platen to the line-space wheel in' any rotative-position of the platen relative to said Wheel, and

locking cams interposed between the platen axle and the teeth of the locking dogs for moving thelatter into looking position, said cams actin on said locking'dogsat points on diametrically opposite sidesof the platen axle,- whereby the re-acting pressure of each locking dog is transmitted to the platen axle and counter-balanced,- by the re-acting pressure'of the opposite locking dog. I

FRANK E. BECKER.

I Witnesses:

F. E. ALEXANDER, J. A. BROPHY. 

